‘Dead or Alive’ gang wanted

By Pai Mulitalo Ale 01 August 2016, 12:00AM

The emergence of a gang of young, lawless unemployed males is causing grave concerns for the Police.

The Ministry of Police is working closely with the villages of Lepea, Vaimoso, Apia, Taufusi and other villages close to town.

The aim is to find ways to identify members of a youth gang which is growing in numbers and causing trouble in the town area.

Another reason why the Police have decided to bring in the villages is to ensure that the youths who belong to those villages, can also be dealt with by their families and the Village Councils. 

The gang goes by the moniker, Dead or Alive, (Ola Po’o le Oti) O.P.O.

 This announcement was made by Police spokesperson Maotaoalii Kaioneta Kitiona last week during their weekly press conference. 

The youth gang is posing a big threat to the general public, he said.

However Maotaoalii believes that the O.P.O. gang is not the only gang operated by youth in Samoa. 

Police were able to identify these gangs from the rising number of incidents occurring around town, including stone fights.

Maotaoalii said the O.P.O.gang is made up of a group of students who are no longer in school, are known troublemakers and who previously caused school fights. 

The members are young and mostly 18 years and under and are identified by wearing the red clothes and especially red bandanas. 

The Ministry has been told that this gang meets once a week to discuss their attack sites. 

"We were told that they have a private meeting venue and we are trying to locate that,” he said. 

Maotaoalii said police are working day and night to ensure the safety of Samoa and are urging members of the public to help with any information. 

 The Police have just started their ‘Safe City’ operation to make sure that Samoa is free of these behaviours.

And, he said, police will do everything they can to make sure that they put a stop to the gangs before the situation gets worse. 

“I have also asked each parent to keep a closer eye on their sons and be aware of this issue, because police will not give them any more chances when they are caught.” 

By Pai Mulitalo Ale 01 August 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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